Electrically operated automatic abrasive portable hair remover



g- 1955 T. c. DI GIOVANNA ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC ABRASIVE PORTABLE HAIR REMOVER Filed April 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

VARIABLE SPEED BY E 5% /M TQR w \q T. C. DI GIOVANNA ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC Aug. 9, 1955 ABRASIVE PORTABLE HAIR REMOVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1954 IN VEN TOR. 71522425? 67560 piaozaw/VA flffZ/Vf United States Patent ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AUTOMATIC ABRA- SIVE PORTABLE HAIR REMOVER Tigellia Cisco Di Giovanna, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application April 16, 1954, Serial No. 423,776

9 Claims. (Cl. 51-170) The present invention relates to a device for removing hair from the body of a person.

Over the years, many methods and means have been tried in an attempt to devise an eificient way to remove the hair that grows on womens legs. The desirability of removing leg hair is well established by the dictates of fashion and recent custom. To solve this problem, various creams have been devised. However, these have the disadvantage of being messy and inconvenient to apply. Another proposed method for removing this hair is electrolysis. But here again, disadvantages appear that prevent wide acceptance of this method. The electric current causes the user much pain and suffering. In addition, the expense of the electrolysis method is prohibitive in many cases, and therefore beyond the reach of much of the general public. The well-known method of shaving has of course been used to some extent. While shaving is effective in cutting the hair, this method leaves a rough stubble.

Because of the undesirable features of the other methods of hair removal, the abrasive method has recently become widely accepted. in this regard, reference may be had to United States Patents 2,046,240 and 2,040,599, which are directed to pads that are manually operable to depilate. The abrasive method is highly satisfactory in result, in that the hair is effectively removed and only a soft stub remains. Abrasive hair removing, however effective the result, is an arduous and laborious task when performed manually as heretofore done.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce an automatically operable machine for removing hair and especially adapted for removing hair from womens legs.

Another object of the present invention is provided by an abrasive hair removing machine that is convenient and easy to control.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotatably operable hair remover that rotates in one direction and then reverses and rotates in the opposite direction.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic hair removing machine, the direction of rotation of which may be manually controlled.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken with the drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in operative use,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an abrasive disc used with the device,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the machine showing the operating mechanism thereof,

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic showing of a gear train employed in the device to cause the abrasive disc to automatically reverse direction of rotation periodically.

Figure 5 is a modification of the device of Fig. 3, where in the direction of rotation may be manually controlled.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified abrasive disc.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the device showing the location of the speed control, and

Figure 8 shows the invention as it may be packaged and prepared for sale.

Experience has shown that in order to achieve results ice from the abrasive method of hair removal, the abrasive sheet must be rubbed over the skin in a circular motion. After a number of revolutions in one direction, the sheet must then be reversed and rubbed over the same skin area in the other direction. It is readily seen that if the abrasive sheet were rubbed over the skin in only one direction, there would be a tendency for the hairs to lay over on the skin, thereby preventing a complete reduction of each hair perpendicular across a cross-section thereof. This should be especially noted because the present invention has been designed to produce the above described rotary motion, and the reversal of direction thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral 10 indicates the machine of the present invention and comprises a handle 11 received in a casing 12 which may be made of any suitable material. An electric motor 13 is mounted in the casing 12 and is supplied with a source of electric power by cord 14 which passes through an opening in the side of the casing, The motor shaft 15 has a pinion gear 16 secured thereto which meshes with a gear 17 secured to a shaft 18. The other end of shaft 18 has a pinion gear 19 fastened thereto which in turn meshes with a gear 20 secured to a shaft 21 which, through the gear train thus far described, rotates counterclockwise as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. A sector gear 22 of approximately 180 is secured to the upper end of shaft 21 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction with the shaft. This sector gear alternately meshes with the pinion gears 23 and 24 during each rotation of the sector. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the sector gear is in engagement, with pinion 23 to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction. When the sector gear 22 has rotated to the dashed line in the figure, it engages pinion 24 to rotate it in a clockwise direction during which time it is disengaged from pinion 23. The gear 24 is secured to the output shaft 25 which is thereby rotated clockwise during the period that sector gear 22 engages pinion 24. The pinion 23 is fastened to shaft 26 which has a gear 27 fastened to the upper end thereof. Gear 27 meshes with gear 28a secured to output shaft 25. During the period that sector 22 engages pinion 23 to transmit clockwise rotation to gear 27, the output shaft is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. It is seen therefore, that the output shaft is alternately rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise. The gear ratio between the sector 22 and pinions 23, 24, may be chosen so that the output shaft makes any predetermined number of revolutions before it reverses direction. tions may be in the range of from 3 to 10.

The output shaft 25 has a cylindrical head 28 fastened thereto to rotate with the shaft. The upper surface of head 28 may have a curved crown as seen in Fig. 3. Also, the head is provided with screw threads to receive an internally threaded pad holder 29. A pad 30 is made of sheet material and has on the other surface thereof an abrasive substance which engages and breaks down the hair structure. The abrasive substance .is of such fineness as to rub down the hair but incapable of scratching the skin. A fine emery has been found to give satisfactory results though other abrasives may be used. The pad 30 is placed on the curved surface of the head 28 and held in place by pad holder 2?. This arrangement makes it convenient to replace worn out pads with fresh ones.

The motor 13 may be of any convenient type that operates from a volt A. C. source or it may be a motor that operates on either A. C. or D. C. current.

A rheostat 31 is mounted within the casing, and connected to control the speed of the motor. The rheostat is controlled by an arm 32 brought out through an opening in the side of the casing and has a knob 33 fastened thereto. Markings on the side of the casing may indicate For example, the number of revoluthe speed of the motor in terms of fast, medium and slow. The device is used on the legs as seen in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a modification of the above described device that is manually controlled. In this modification, the motor 34 has a bevel gear 35 secured to its shaft which continually rotates in one direc tion as long as the power is connected thereto. The bevel gear 35 is adapted to engage either one of two bevel gears 36 and 37 which are secured to the output shaft 38. A spring 39 urges the shaft 38 into the position shown in Figure 5, wherein be'vel gears 35 and 36 are in mesh and the shaft 38 rotates in one direction. An operating lever 40 is pivoted within the hollow handle 41 and engages the inner end of the output shaft 38. By pivoting the lever 40 in a counterclockwise direction, shaft 38 is moved against the spring 39 to disengage gears 35 and 36, and engage gear 37 with gear 35. This results in a reversal of direction of the output shaft. The pivotal movement of lever 40 is conveniently effected by pressing a projection 41 of the lever which extends through an opening in the handle. A cylindrical head 42 is secured to the output shaft 38 to turn therewith. A cylindricalshaped pad holder 43 fits around the head 42 and has internal screw threads for securing the holder to the threaded head. In this modification, the abrasive pad 44 is cup-shaped. The rim of the pad fits snugly between the cylindrical head 42 and the holder 43 so as to rotate as these members are rotated by shaft 38. Pad 44 may be made of the same material as pad 30 hereinbefore described. In operation, the device of Figure 5 is permitted to operate in one direction for a period of time within the control of the operator who then presses projection 41 to effect a reversal of rotation as above described. The hollow handle 45 is received into the casing by a friction fit. In either modification therefor, the device may be disassembled for packaging as shown in Figure 8.

While the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment thereof, it is understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

, Having defined my invention, what I claim to be new and novel, is: I

1. In a device for removing hair, a supporting means, an electric motor mounted within said means, a shaft adapted to be rotated by said motor, an abrasive pad and a holder for the latter secured to said shaft, said abrasive pad comprising a sheet member covered with an abrasive material of such fineness as to inter-engage with the hair structure but incapable of scratching the skin, means for reversing the direction of rotation of the said shaft.

2. In a device for removing hair, a supporting means, an electric motor mounted within said means, a shaft adapted to be rotated by said motor, a cylindrical member fixedly mounted on said shaft, an abrasive pad and a holder for the latter having internal screw threads adapted tobe screw-fastened to said cylindrical member, whereby said abrasive pad may be mounted, said abrasive pad comprising a sheet member covered with an abrasive material of such fineness as to interengage with the hair structure but incapable of scratching the skin, means for reversing the direction of rotation of the said shaft.

3. In a device for removing hair, a supporting means, an electric motor mounted within said means, a shaft adapted to be rotated by said motor, a cylindrical member fixedly mounted on said shaft, an abrasive pad and a holder for the latter having internal screw threads adapted to be screw-fastened to said cylindrical member, said abrasive pad comprising a sheet member covered with an abrasive material of such fineness as to interengage with the hair structure but incapable of scratching the skin, means for reversing the direction of rotation of the said shaft, and a handle fastened to said supporting means whereby said device maybe conveniently operated.

fit

4. A device for removing hair from the body, comprising a cylindrical casing, an electric motor mounted Within said casing, a shaft mounted to be rotated by said motor, a cylindrical head mounted on said shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, a pad holder screw fastened to said cylindrical head, an abrasive pad held in place along the outer periphery thereof by said cylindrical head and said pad holder, said pad comprising a sheet member and an abrasive material of such fineness as to interengage with the hair structure, but incapable of scratching the skin, means for reversing the direction of rotation of the said shaft, a rheostat connected to said motor to vary the speed thereof, a control arm connected to said rheostat and a handle removably fastened to said casing.

5. A device for removing hair from the body comprising a casing, an electric motor mounted in said casing, a motor shaft adapted to be rotated by said motor, an output shaft, a cylindrical head mounted on said output shaft, an abrasive pad mounted on said cylindrical head, said abrasive pad including a sheet member and an abrasive material of such fineness as to interengage the hair structure but incapable of scratching the skin, and a gear train operatively coupling, said motor shaft and said output shaft the said gear train including means to rotate the said output shaft intermittently in one and the other direction, respectively.

6. The device as described in claim 5 in which said gear train includes pinion gears and a sector gear, all said gears being coplanar, one of the said pinion gears being connected to the output shaft and the other of said pinion gears being connected to an auxiliary shaft, and additional gear means coupling, said auxiliary shaft with said output shaft.

7. A device for removing hair from the body, comprising a casing, an electric motor mounted in said casing, a motor shaft adapted to be rotated by said motor, an output shaft, a cylindrical head mounted on said output shaft, a cup-shaped abrasive pad mounted on said cylindrical head, said abrasive pad including a sheet member, and fine abrasive material, a first bevel gear mounted on said motor shaft and a pair of bevel gears secured to said output shaft located to selectively engage said first bevel gear.

8. A device for removing hair from the body, comprising a casing, an electric motor mounted in said casing, a motor shaft adapted to be rotated by said motor, an output shaft, a cylindrical head mounted on said output shaft, 21 cup-shaped abrasive pad mounted on said cylindrical head, said abrasive pad including a sheet member, and fine abrasive material, a first bevel gear mounted on said motor shaft and a pair of bevel gears secured to said output shaft located to selectively engage said first bevel gear, a coil spring to urge said output shaft in one direction so that one of said pair of bevel gears normally engages said first bevel gear to rotate said output shaft in one direction and means to move said output shaft against said coil spring to disengage References Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 923,865 Lippincott June 8, 1909 1,180,416 Norton Apr. 25, 1916 1,622,592 Kratz Mar. 29, 1927 2,187,271 Knapp Jan. 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 607,048 Great Britain Aug'.- 2 5; 1948 

